Ice and Snow – Take it Slow!

You know what they say about New England weather…if you don’t like it just wait a minute!

Well, Maine’s winter driving conditions can change from sunny to blowing snow within an hour or two. Be prepared at all times, but especially in winter. Know road conditions, know your vehicle, use proper driving techniques for the conditions you find, and have the right emergency gear and equipment along. Most of all, in ice and snow – take it slow!

As Maine prepares to face an oncoming winter, one thing is certain: somewhere in the state, there will be snow. MaineDOT snow fighters are urging motorists to stay safe and help our employees stay safe while clearing roads during winter driving conditions.

Avoid any sudden or excessive actions while steering, braking or accelerating so you don’t lose control.

Take it slow in ice and snow!

Stopping on snow or ice without skidding requires extra time and distance. Drive slowly – below posted speed limits – so you can adjust to the conditions. This is especially true at intersections, off ramps, bridges and shady areas where black ice can form without being noticed.

Don’t turn your four-wheel drive into an “off-road” vehicle!

Four-wheel drive may help you get going faster but it doesn’t help you stop sooner or maintain control better once you lose traction. Take it slow!

Allow extra room between vehicles.

Longer stopping distances and extra time are required during winter conditions to avoid chain reaction crashes.

Don’t take chances when pulling out in front of approaching vehicles.

Remember, when the pavement is wet, you may not be able to slow down and they may not be able to accelerate as quickly as you would on dry pavement.

Avoid using cruise control.

You need to be in full control when road conditions are wet or icy. Don’t let your cruise control make a bad decision for you.

Brake early, brake slowly, brake correctly and never slam on the brakes.

If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal.

Stay alert!

Beware of what’s going on well ahead of you. Other vehicles can alert you to problem spots on the road which may give you the split second you need to avoid a crash. Needless to say, you can’t be alert if you’re on the phone so don’t let yourself get distracted.

The Veazie Police Department would like to welcome 2 new officers to the department. Officer Nathaniel Jordan and Officer Aaron Nolan.

Officer Nathaniel Jordan has been hired as a full time officer with the Veazie Police Department. Prior to joining Veazie PD, Officer Jordan worked part time with the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department as a Reserve Deputy, and plans to continue to work there on a part time basis. Officer Jordan has just completed his field training program, so please join us in welcoming him to the community when you see him out on patrol.

Officer Aaron Nolan has been hired as a part time officer with the Veazie Police Department. Officer Nolan worked over the summer as a part time seasonal officer with the Scarborough Police Department. Officer Nolan came to the area to continue his education at Husson University where is is also employed. Officer Nolan is currently in training with department Field Training Officers. We would like to welcome him to the community.

From May 2012 to March 2015, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received complaints regarding criminals hosting fraudulent government services websites in order to acquire Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and to collect fraudulent fees from consumers.

Although the volume and loss amounts associated with these websites are minimal to date, the victims are having their PII data compromised which may be used by criminals for any number of other illicit activities, ranging from the creation of fraudulent IDs and passports to fraudulent loans and tax refunds. The PII can include the victim’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address, social security number, date of birth, and mother’s maiden name.

This is how the scheme usually happens: victims use a search engine to search for government services such as obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or replacement social security card. The fraudulent criminal websites are the first to appear in search results, prompting the victims to click on the fraudulent government services website. The victim completes the required fraudulently posted forms for the government service they need. The victim submits the form online, believing they are providing their PII to government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, or similar agency based on the service they need. Once the forms are completed and submitted, the fraudulent website usually requires a fee to complete the service requested. The fees typically range from $29 to $199 based on the government service requested. Once the fees are paid the victim is notified they need to send their birth certificate, driver’s license, employee badge, or other personal items to a specified address. The victim is then told to wait a few days to several weeks for processing. By the time the victim realizes it is a scam, they may have had extra charges billed to their credit/debit card, had a third-party designee added to their EIN card, and never received the service(s) or documents requested. Additionally, all of their PII data has been compromised by the criminals running the websites and can be used for any number of illicit purposes. The potential harm gets worse for those who send their birth certificate or other government-issued identification to the perpetrator.

Follow-up calls or e-mails to the perpetrator(s) are normally ignored and many victims report the customer service telephone numbers provided are out of service. The FBI recommends that consumers ensure they are communicating or requesting services/merchandise from a legitimate source by verifying the entity. When dealing with government websites, look for the .gov domain instead of a .com domain (e.g. www.ssa.gov and not www.ssa.com).

Below are some consumer tips when using government services or contacting agencies online:

Use search engines or other websites to research the advertised services or person/company you plan to deal with.

Search the Internet for any negative feedback or reviews on the government services company, their Web site, their e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, or other searchable identifiers.

Research the company policies before completing a transaction.

Be cautious when surfing the Internet or responding to advertisements and special offers.

Be cautious when dealing with persons/companies from outside the country.

Maintain records for all online transactions.

As a consumer, if you suspect you are a victim of an Internet-related crime, you may file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

Attorney General warns Mainers to be suspicious of callers demanding immediate payment of a debt by pre-paid debit cards or other cash transfers

(AUGUSTA) Attorney General Janet T. Mills reports that her Office has received many recent reports of aggressive calls from scammers demanding immediate payments on supposed debts. The common thread among the scammers is that they attempt to get you to make a payment by wire transfer or pre-paid debit card. Mainers should be very suspicious of anyone calling out of the blue and demanding an immediate payment of a debt, especially if they require that payment by any reloadable cash cards such as Green Dot Money Pak or a wire service like Western Union.

“The names and the details of the scams vary,” Attorney General Mills said. “Typically the caller pretends they are from a business that you know and are attempting to collect an old debt. Perhaps they say you have won a lottery. Sometimes they even claim to be from the state or federal government. The caller has just enough information about you that you believe they are legitimate. The red flag, however, is that they want you to make an instant payment with a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. This is how you know you are getting scammed. Hang up the phone immediately.”

In this information age, a scammer can glean a lot of information about a person from the internet. They may also have coupled that information with private personal or financial data from an illegal data breach. The result is that the scammer can be very convincing when they call you out of the blue and catch you off guard.

“No legitimate business, governmental entity or genuine debt collection agency is going to call you without having first sent you mail. They will not demand an immediate payment. They will not require that you wire cash or use a pre-paid debit card service, and they will not threaten you with arrest if you do not comply,” said Attorney General Mills. “These are all the red flags of a scam artist.”

One Maine resident recently recorded his interaction with a scammer claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. His call illustrates several tactics used by phone scammers. They claimed to be from an entity that the target is familiar with and who he has the potential to owe money to. When challenged about his authenticity, the scammer tried to reassure the target by giving a badge number in order to sound official. And finally, the payment could only be made by “Green Dot Money Pak,” available at places like Walmart or drug store chains, and not by other typical means. The scammers are also not easily dissuaded; different people called repeatedly making the same claims in order to make him think they were legitimate.

Green Dot Money Pak is one brand name of a service people can use instead of a bank account to store cash; though there are many other companies who offer similar services. It looks like and can be used like a typical debit or credit card at cash registers or ATMs. These cards can be obtained by purchasing one at a store and loading it with funds. Each card has a unique account number. Scammers will get you to load your cash onto the card account and then have you read them the account number over the phone. They then withdraw your cash from the account from anywhere in the world, virtually untraceable.

The IRS has warned people about scams like this and the FTC has a website with information about the IRS scam and other common phone scams like the foreign lottery, extended car warranties or charitable causes.

“The best advice to Mainers is to be very suspicious of anyone calling you and demanding an immediate payment,” said Attorney General Mills. “When in doubt, hang up the phone. If you have questions, call the entity they claimed to be from to see if you have a debt to pay and never, ever make a payment over the phone.”

Maine consumers who have questions about phone scams or other consumer protection matters can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division: 1-800-436-2131 or email: consumer.mediation@Maine.gov .

Now that a great deal of the fall foliage has fallen to the ground, I thought it prudent to point out to area drivers a potential issue to be aware of: Fallen leaves can be just as slippery as ice or snow, especially when wet. Just something to keep in mind when you are out and about and have to brake on a leaf-covered section of pavement. Stay alert and stay safe.
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Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:09:56 +0000http://veaziepd.net/?p=611

As the temperatures drop and folks start to build that first fire of the year, we’d like to remind everyone to have your chimneys checked and/or cleaned by a professional prior to the wood burning season getting into full swing. The Veazie Fire Department responded to a chimney fire last week and, luckily, it turned out well for the homeowner. We’d all hate to respond to a devastating fire that could have easily been prevented with a bit of maintenance and foresight. Enjoy our beautiful autumn days, stay alert and stay safe.
]]>Recent activity at Veazie PDhttp://veaziepd.net/?p=600
Mon, 01 Sep 2014 19:20:49 +0000http://veaziepd.net/?p=600

The Department has continued its focus on quality training for our officers this year. Our recent training has covered several different subject areas, allowing us to continue to provide service excellence to the Town. Here is an update on what we’ve been up to this year:

Sgt. Nichols has attended 80 hours of leadership training this year, most recently the FBI-LEEDA Command Institute sponsored by our neighbors at Orono PD. He also became certified as a Squad Leader Instructor and Officer Basic Instructor for MACTAC (Multi-Assault, Counter Terrorism Action Capabilities). This intense, 40-hour course focusing on active shooter response was hosted by Brewer PD and was presented by the National Tactical Officers Association with instructors from the Los Angeles Police Department. Sgt. Nichols completed the 16-hour Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Combined Provider Course hosted by Glenburn FD, instructed by MPS Solutions from Springfield, MA. This is another intense course focusing on tactical emergency first aid. He also became certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician.

Off. Parkhurst completed a 24-hour Basic Crime Scene Technician class hosted and instructed by Portland PD. On 15 SEP, he will be attending the Crisis Intervention Team Program at Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, hosted by NAMI-Maine. This course is 40 hours of specialized training with the goal for first responders to have the communication skills to de-escalate situations involving individuals living with mental illness.

Most officers attended the Pipeline Emergency Response class held at the Spectacular Events Center and instructed by Paradigm Liaison Services. We had our annual firearms qualifications on the 12th of August where we re-qualified with our pistols and shotguns. (In the event you are unaware, we carry the Glock 21SF .45 caliber pistol and Benelli M1 and M2 12 gauge shotgun.) All officers continually take part yearly in training mandated by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. This includes 22 hours of mandatory training for 2014 set by MCJA and 18 hours of elective training specified by the Chief. Areas covered are wide-ranging and include: New Law Updates, Case Law Updates, Social Media, Methamphetamine Labs, Elder Abuse & Exploitation, Ontario Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment, Criminal Justice Information Systems Security Awareness, CPR/AED, etc.

The Department participated in the “2014 Drive Sober, Maine!” campaign in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign, which concluded this weekend. We also participated in the “2014 Buckle Up-No Excuses” Seat Belt Education and Enforcement campaign from May 14th-June 1st. Both campaigns were successful.

Sgt. Nichols and Chief Leonard were successful in getting VZPD designated as an Official Inspection Station for child safety seats. If you or someone you know has questions, has a car seat needing to be inspected or needs assistance installing a car seat, give us a call and make an appointment with Sgt. Nichols. There is no cost.

Just a reminder, folks, that fireworks of any kind are notauthorized to be ignited or used within the Town of Veazie. It is possible, however, for you to have a fireworks display if you seek permission from the Town Council at least 30 days prior and meet all of the conditions specified in “Town Ordinance 19 – Fireworks,” which is posted in its entirety below:

Section 19.01 Purpose

This Ordinance is enacted under the authority of Sections 00.01.02.09 and 00.01.02.10 of the Town Charter for the purpose of promoting the public peace, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town by regulating the ignition of Fireworks in any shape or form within any portion of the Town of Veazie.

Section 19.02 Definitions

“Fireworks”, for the purpose of this ordinance, shall have the same definition as set forth in 8 M.R.S.A. § 211.

Section 19.03 Fireworks Prohibited

It shall be unlawful for any person to ignite or set off fireworks of any kind or description within the Town of Veazie. However, the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to an approved display provided that the requirements of Section 19.04 of the Ordinance are met.

Section 19.04 Fireworks Display

Fireworks displays may ignited or set off provided all of the following requirements are met:

19.04.01

A person must apply to and receive permission from the Veazie Town Council at least 30 days prior to the display date.

19.04.02

A person must possess and produce a valid permit issued by the State of Maine Fire Marshall’s office.

19.04.03

A person must show proof of liability insurance in an amount sufficient to satisfy the Veazie Town Council.

19.04.04

A person must agree to reimburse the Town of Veazie for all incidental costs associated with such Fireworks display including, but not limited to, police and fire protection, ambulance services and damage to surrounding properties.

19.04.05

No site may be considered for a Fireworks display unless such site is located in an Industrial or Residential – 4 Zone or other site deemed appropriate by the Veazie Town Council.

19.04.06

No Fireworks display may be considered for permission unless such display will be ignited or set off between the hours of 6:00 P.M. EST and 10:00 P.M. EST.

19.04.07

The Veazie Town Council reserves the right to impose additional requirements as individual cases may warrant in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of inhabitants of the Town.

Section 19.05 Council Decision Final

The determination of the Veazie Town Council as to the propriety of any display or application for display is final and is not subject to appeal to any other body within the Town. However, nothing in this section shall be construed as to limit an applicants right to remedy under Maine or Federal law.

Section 19.06 Violations

Any violator of this Ordinance, upon conviction subsequent to the first conviction, will be subject to a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200).

Section 19.07 Severability

If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be deemed as a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.

Welcome to the Veazie Police Department’s website! Our staff provides full-time professional police services to a town of approximately 1900 residents, nestled between the City of Bangor to the south and the Town of Orono to the north. Our website is designed to provide you with important information about the department, its services to the community and news events throughout the town. We welcome and encourage feedback from the public with any suggestions, comments, questions or concerns you may have regarding the Veazie Police Department. Contact information for each member of our department is located under the STAFF tab on the top menu bar of the website. Thank you for visiting!
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